“Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law…Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.” Ezra 10:3,11

            That’s certainly a tough call, but the people should have known that mixing with foreigners was a no-no.  If they allowed the marriages to continue, it would only perpetuate the problem and contaminate the remnant with pagan infiltration.  Reform had to start some place.